Clutch.



P. R. HAHNEMANN.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED cart. 31. 1913.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

KL @M Inventor A ttest:

HE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHoTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON D C.

P. R. HAHNEMANN.

GLUTGH.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. a1, 1913 1, 126,452. Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOm-LITHQ. WASHING roN. D, c.

UNITED STATES PAENT @FFT 1 3i.

PAUL R. HAHNEMANN, or MOUNT vnnnon, NEW YORK.

CLUTCH.

Application filed October 31, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PAUL R. HAHNEMANN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county ofWestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clutches, such as are adapted to connect adriving member with a member to be driven without interruption ofmovement of the driving memher.

The present invention more particularly contemplates a clutch for use inconnection with machines in which comparatively high power is to betransmitted through the clutch mechanism, such, for instance, asstamping and other presses, with a view to securing greater efficiencywith a minimum loss of time in establishing and breaking the connectionthrough the clutch mechanism.

In addition to the provision of clutch mechanism of greater efficiency,and one which is rapid and dependable in its clutching and releasingoperations, I have in view an improved construction which enables me toavail myself of an arrangement of parts which insures a more uniform andbetter distributed application of forces in the transmission of powerthrough the clutch mechanism, whereby the various parts of the devicewould be subjected to less wear, run in better balance, make less noise,and better conserve the forces for the real work to be done.

In addition to the above, the present invention contemplates simplicityin construc tion and general dependability in operation.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of clutch mechanismembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on thebroken line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same; Figs. 4 and5 are detailed views hereinafter de scribed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 15 designates a shaftto which it is desired to transmit power from the pulley or otherrotating element 16, mounted on and normally rotatable independent ofthe Shaft 15, preferably through the medium of Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915..

Serial No. 798,606.

the bushing 17. Secured to the outer face of the pulley 16, in suchmanner as to substantially cap the central bore thereof and againstwhich the end of the shaft 15 abuts, is a disk plate 18. The contiguousend of the shaft 15 is channeled for the reception of the clutch pin 19,best shown in perspective in its preferred form in Fig. 4. The channelfor this clutch pin substantially conforms in configuration to the pin,and provides for a limited longitudinal sliding movement of said pin.This pin 19 is pro vided with a solid head of a size sufficient toinsure such strength and rigidity as is required to approximate themaximum power transmitted from the pulley 16 to the shaft 15 and resistthe consequent torsional strains. The disk plate 18 is provided with acentral orifice 21, into which the head of the clutch-pin 19 may beprojected and which in configuration is approximately complemental tothe configuration of the head 20 of the pin, whereby, when this head 20is projected into the orifice 21 of the disk 18, said disk 18 willrotate the shaft 15 with the pulley 16.

For the mere purpose of proper transmission, it will be apparent thatthe head 20 of the pin might be made to fit snugly within acorrespondingly shaped orifice in the disk 18, but in view of the factthat the pulley 16 is rotating at high speed and the clutch-pin head 20must be forced into the opening from a stationary member, it is obviousthat the orifice 20 must be given a configuration which will provide forthe very short period of time which must elapse in overcoming inertia inthe pin and advancing the same into the orifice. Therefore, in applyinga pin having a driving head 20 of the configuration shown in Fig. 4:,which I think is the best for most practical purposes, I provide thedisk 18 of an orifice 21 with the configuration shown in Fig. 5 which itwill be noted, provides for the time element referred to and yetpresents faces to the driving head 20 which provide for a maximum areaof contact between the faces of those parts through which forces areapplied.

In the rear end of the pin 19, I provide an adjustable pin or post 22projecting into a suitable bore in the shaft 15, around which pin is thecoil-spring 23, at all times exerting a yielding pressure against thehead 20 of the clutch-pin which tends to force the latter in thedirection of the disk 18. When the orifice 21 in the disk 18 is broughtby rotation of said disk into position where it registers with the endof the driving head 20, the spring 23 is of suflicient power to forcethe end of said head into said orifice and thus establish a connectionwhereby the shaft 15 is rotated with the pulley 16. I have shown theshaft 15 provided with a transverse bore 27, and the clutch-pin 19 witha relatively smaller transverse bore 29 adapted to register with saidbore 27. Passing through these bores is the loose leverpin 28, whichlever-pin I have shown provided with enlarged heads 30 and 31 at theends thereof and an enlarged middle portion 32. The heads 30 and 31provide suitable bearing surfaces for the lever-pin in operation, andthe head 30 further cooperates with the shoulder-stop ll at one end ofthe bore 27 to retain said lever-pin 28 in place, movement of saidlever-pin through said bores in the other direction being prevented byreducing the opposite end of the bore 29 to engage the enlarged middleportion 32 of said lever-pin, as shown in Fig. 1. Said lever-pin beingalways subject to the action of the spring 23, it will be apparent thatthe former will at all times be held in place, yet capable of readyremoval at any time, without the employment of any form of tool orimplement, by merely forcing-and holding back the clutch-pin 19.

An arm 34: is pivoted at 85 to a boss iO on the frame of the machine, soas to be vertically oscillated by means of a connecting rod 36 pivotedat its upper end at 37 to said arm 3 1 and at its lower end to anordinary foot-treadle (not shown in the drawings). This arm 3st is soshaped at its free end as to provide a wedge 38 having a comparativelythin end edge 39 which, when said arm 3% is in its normally raisedposition, engages the head 31 at the end of the lever-pin 28, as thelatter is revolved with the shaft 15, and serves to operate said leverwith the other end thereof as a fulcrum to retract said clutch-pin andwithdraw the head 20 thereof from the orifice 21 in the disk-plate 18,thereby separating the clutch members and terminating the application offorces from one to the other and the transmission of power to the shaft15 which, in view of the weight of the load carried by the latter, thedevice being primarily designed for use in connection with a press,quickly comes to a condition of rest. The foot treadle being depressed,however, thus through the rod 86 withdrawing the wedge 88 from the pathof movement of the head 31 of the lever-pin 28, the spring 23 will atonce operate to again render the clutch mechanism effective.

While I do not desire to limit myself to any particular form orconfiguration of clutch pin, I have shown the latter in this case asbeing substantially cylindrical in form and being provided at itsoperative end with a plurality of comparatively short longitudinal ribs33, these ribs providing what might be termed a star-shaped clutchpinhead, as shown in Fig. l. The orifice 21 in the disk 18, as shown inFig. 5, is of substantially complemental configuration, the recesses forthe reception of the ribs being slightly greater in width than the widthof said ribs in order to provide for'the time element hereinbeforereferred to. It will be apparent, however, that any desired form ofnon-circular clutch-pin head may be em ployed, cooperating with adisk-plate orifice of substantially complemental configuration, withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide a pin in either adriving or driven element adapted to be forced into an orifice in adriven or driving element, without interruption of movement of thedriving element, for the purpose of intermittently or periodicallytransmitting power from one element to another, but so far as I amaware, this clutch-pin has always been arranged eccentrically withrespect to the rotating elements, a construction which obviously resultsin an uneven or unequal distribution of the forces, resulting in greaterwear and shorter life of the parts. It will be noted in connection withmy invention that the clutch-pin is concentrically mounted with respectto both rotating elements, possessing the advantages which I havehereinbefore set forth, and yet is readily reciprocated to connect anddisconnect the clutch elements at any time desired, irrespective ofcontinuous rotation of the driving element. Furthermore, while I amaware that it is not new to employ a loose lever-pin in connection witha clutch-pin which is eccentrically mounted, sucha construction beingheretofore necessary in order to render the various parts removable forrepair or replacement without practically dismantling the entiremachine, so far as I am aware such a leverpin has never been employed inconnection with a clutch-pin which is concentrically mounted withrespect to the driving and driven elements, and particular attention isdirected to the fact that in a device embodying my invention first thelever-pin and then the clutch-pin may be removed without removal of thefly-wheel or pulley, without the removal of screws, and withoutnecessity for the use of any tool or implement. Furthermore, the endplate 18 leaves exposed the end of the shaft 15, thereby preventing theaccumulation of abrasion from the con tact surfaces of the clutchmembers.

Other modifications of minor details of my improved clutch willdoubtless readily Cit suggest themselves to those skilled in the art towhich it appertains, and I therefore do not desire to limit my inventionto the specific construction herein shown and de-' scribed.

I claim as new Letters Patent:

1. The combination, with concentrically arranged rotating driving anddriven members, of a concentrically located clutch memher, a leverrotating therewith to operate said clutch member, and means reciprocableto and. from a position in the path of movement of said lever to actuatesaid lever.

The combination with concentrically arranged rotating driving and drivenmembers, of a concentrically located reciprocating clutch-pin, a leverassociated and rotating therewith. to reciprocate said clutchpin, andmeans for actuating said lever, said means being movable to and fromoperative position irrespective of rotation of said members.

3. The combination, with concentrically arranged rotating driving anddriven members, of a concentrically located clutch member normallyspring-pressed to operative position, a lever associated and rotatingtherewith to control movement of said clutch member, and meansreciprocable to and from a position in the path of move ment of saidlever to actuate said clutch-pin through said lever against the actionof the spring.

at. The combination arranged rotating driving and driven members, of aconcentrically located reciprocating clutch-pin normally spring-pressedto operative position, a lever associated and rotating therewith againstthe action of its spring, and means normally in but removable from thepath of movement of the end of said lever to engage the latter andwithdraw said clutchpin from operative position.

5. lhe combination with concentrically arranged rotating driving anddriven members, of a concentrically located clutclrpin spring-pressed inone direction, a lever associated and rotating therewith to actuate saidclutch-pin in the other direction, and a wedgeunember movable to andfrom a position in the path of movement of said lever to operate thesame.

The combination, with concentrically arranged rotating driving anddriven mem bers, of a concentrically located clutch-pin spring-pressedto operative position, a lever associated and rotating therewith toretract said clutch pin to a position of inope 'ativeness, and awedge-member normally in but removable from the path of movement of theend of said lever to engage the latter and actuate said clutch-pintherethrough.

7. The combination, with a rotatable shaft and desire to secure by with.concentrically to actuate said clutch-pin and a member independentlyrotatable thereon, of a concentrically located clutchpin reciprocablewithin said shaft to connect and disconnect said member, said shaft andsaid clutch-pin being provided with registering transverse bores, a'loose lever-pin passing through said bores, and means movable to andfrom a position in the path of movement of the end of said lever-pin toengage and release the same and reciprocate said clutch-pin.

S. The combination, with a rotatable shaft and a member independentlyrotatable thereon, of a concentrically located clutchpin reciprocablewithin said shaft to connect and disconnect said member, said shaft andsaid clutch-pin being provided with registering transverse bores, aloose leverpin passing through said bores, means movable to and from aposition in the path of movement of the end of said lever pin to engageand release the same and reciprocate said clutch-pin and means forretaining said lever-pin in place.

9. The combination, with. a rotatable shaft and a member independentlyrotatable thereon, of a concentrically located clutchpin reciprocablewithin said shaft to connect and disconnect said member, said shaft andsaid clutch-pin being provided with registering transverse bores, aloose leverpin passing through said bores, means movable to and from aposition in the path of movement of the end of said lever-pin to engageand release the same and reciprocate said clutch-pin, said lastmentioned means pern'iitting of the ready removal. of lever and clutchpins without the removal of any other parts of the device.

it). The combination, with a rotatable shaft and a pulley or the likemounted at the end thereof to rotate independently thereof, of adisk-plate ca ping the bore of said pulley, the end of said shaftabutting said plate, a clutch-pin mounted to reciprocate longitudinallywithin the end of said shaft, said clutch-pin being spring-pressed tooperative position and being provided with a non-circular end adapted tobe projected into substantially complementallyshaped orifice in saidplate, said pin and said. orifice being concentric with respect to bothshaft and pulley, a lever associated and rotating with said clutch-pinand means normally in but removable from the path of movement of saidlever to engage the same and withdraw said clutclrpin from operativeposition against the action of its spring.

ii. The combination, with shaft and a pulley or the like mounted at theend thereof to rotate independently thereof, of a disk-plate capping thebore of said pulley, the end of said shaft abutting said plate, a clutchpin mounted to recipa rotatable rocate longitudinally Within the end ofsaid shaft and provided With a non-circular end adapted to be projectedinto a substantially complementally-shaped orifice in said plate, saidpin and said orifice being concentric With respect to both shaft andpulley, a lever associated and rotating with said clutch-pin toreciprocate said clutch-pin, and means for actuating said lever, saidmeans being movable to and from operative PAUL R. HAHNEMANN.

Witnesses G. J. WESTIN, WVM. A. G. GUNTI-IER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

